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Giving a Gift, Exquisite (1)
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Jing Wan separately fetched a cup and poured some wine, pushing it towards Mei Yi’s direction. “Owner doesn’t need to be nervous. Drink some wine to ease the nerves.”
“Young gentleman, this one is unworthy.” Wine personally poured by a qin-wangfei, how was it something she a lowly slave can afford to bear.
“Just a cup of wine, that’s all, unlikely to be that serious. ———Seemingly heard that this dish was sent over from a restaurant? Wangye has always been magnanimous. This dish wasn’t made well, so even if it’s looking into, it should still be looking into the restaurant’s fault. As long as owner doesn’t have involvement with the restaurant, we naturally won’t take our anger out on you.” Jing Wan neither quickly nor slowly spoke, seemingly as if it really was just having made a bad dish.
Mei Yi calmed her nerves. This meaning couldn’t be more clear. This matter will be thoroughly investigated. As long as it has nothing to do with her, then it won’t because of occurring on her pleasure boat cause her to be implicated. “Young gentleman is right, wangye is wise, so naturally will ‘clearly examine the autumn feather[1]‘.” She slightly bowed and took the wine cup on the table, “Thanking young gentleman for bestowing.”
Even so, her heart still wasn’t all that stable. Speaking of which, while appearing to have ordered a table of dishes, in reality, they were the various signature dishes ordered in advance from the various big restaurants, just according to the scheduled time, letting them make on the dot, and send over at the perfect time. However, right now, this has become a huge hole. With this one dish ‘spoiled’, will there also be a second, a third, or even more? Actually, the best method was for the dishes afterwards to not be brought up, but this wasn’t something she had a say in. Just, all say children of noble birth don’t sit under overhanging eaves[2]. Since clearly aware that there’s danger, why doesn’t Jin Qinwang issue an order to block? Even if wanting to ‘draw the snake from its hole’, the things sent over don’t need to be eaten.
At the moment, she won’t get implicated, but if mishap were to occur repeatedly in a row, ruining the mood, everything will all become unpredictable.
Jing Wan declined to comment, turning her head to look towards the beauties again, “Go on, who’s next?”
In reality, at this time, no one was too willing to stand out, fearing that they’ll make a mistake. But with these twelve people, they still haven’t gone through one round. Previously, Fu Xiao was the first one to stand out. Because the situation was a bit peculiar, she actually got a good start, yet it will inevitably make people feel that she harbors ulterior motives. But they all forgot that it was originally determined for her to start first to begin with. If according to the original order……….Unfortunately, this next head courtesan was a bit timid, very much unable to adapt to the current atmosphere, so if she stands out, afraid she will mess up.
Mei Yi signaled with her eyes several times, yet she was still aloof. Without any other choice, she indicated for the person lined up afterwards to go up, but each and every one all pretended to not see, pretending to be deaf and mute. Mei Yi was truly angry inside.
Fu Xiao glanced at Mei Yi, slightly sighing inside, and once again stood out. Otherwise, if trouble descends, Mei Yi certainly will bear the brunt of the force. After all, it was Mei Yi that raised her to adulthood with brocade garments and jade meals. Tossing aside the elements that one was unwilling to face, there still was a bit of sincere feelings inside, so she can’t disregard her.
“This slave suddenly thought of a tune that matches the scenery, so dare to take up the other sisters’ time to once again offer one’s humble performance, asking wangye and young gentleman to allow.”
The situation right now, everyone was all well aware of inside. Towards Fu Xiao, Jing Wan had a bit of good impression, so naturally won’t be unwilling. The good atmosphere, if able to not break, naturally it was for the best.
In comparison, Mei Yi felt even more complicated inside. She has always felt that Fu Xiao hasn’t straightened out her mentality. In the land of fireworks, how can one not be dyed by windblown dust? Sometimes, although taunting her, she has never truly forced her to thoroughly fall into depravity, and further didn’t use any tricks to have her tainted black, even imperceptibly protecting that innocence and sincerity of hers. Clearly just a brothel keeper, so doing this was practically beyond reason, but when really encountering something, afraid, it’s also only her that will stand out.
Eunuch Mu said, his master liked clean things, and these words weren’t necessarily wrong. And what kind of person was Li Hong Yuan? The things that Jing Wan was able to make out, he naturally saw even clearer. Under normal circumstances, towards the women outside, he didn’t have any good feelings, and it was just the people serving by Jing Wan’s side that he had a bit of a better impression towards. Fu Xiao for the most part was able to rank behind them, and this was already considered quite rare. However, it was probably just that. Even if in the future, they will encounter again, this impression won’t increase either. However, it was easy to see that they won’t encounter again.
The people under Li Hong Yuan naturally moved quickly. Li Su Yan stepped onto the protective railings on the edge of the pleasure boat, and with a leapt, just landed on the other boat, taking along two people while carrying that restaurant’s waiter, riding away on that small boat that had been used to deliver the dishes. For the investigation, naturally it was moving the quicker the better.
Speaking of which, this Linchuan River was also very wide. Compared to the capital’s moat, it all wasn’t inferior by much. Hearing the drawn out music, Jing Wan moved to another spot, sitting by the protective railing. Below was the clear river water, and as far as the eye can see were boats coming and going. And along the riverbank, the willow trees gently stir in the wind, verdant and lush, further having endless streams of horses and carriages, the pedestrians either easygoing, or in a hurry.
There was somewhat the illusion of the years all well and calm.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Jing Wan leaned against the railing, her chin propped against the edge, extending one hand, naturally hanging down, probably wanting to feel the water below. However, the boat’s protective railing was sufficiently tall, so naturally one wasn’t able to reach. In this period of time, she has been continuously dealing with those official madams. Although she occupied a high position, holding the absolute authority, it was still very annoying. This kind of relaxing carefreeness naturally made one happy.
Li Hong Yuan sat in the same spot, drinking and pouring the wine on his own. Jing Wan was admiring the scenery, yet she was the most beautiful scenery in his eyes.
When Li Hong Yuan once again turned around to grab the wine bottle, there was a woman that diligently went forward, clearly preparing to serve him. His gaze sharpened, and that woman immediately froze. Li Hong Yuan’s gaze shifted, landing on Mei Yi. When the people below make a mistake, it’s never wrong to look for the person above to shoulder the pot.
Mei Yi originally was also paying attention to Jing Wan, and thus didn’t notice this.
Li Hong Yuan’s gaze was like as if solidifying, and with a quiver, Mei Yi turned back. And upon seeing this side, how can she still not understanding what had happened, nearly vomiting blood in anger. She hurriedly kowtowed towards Li Hong Yuan, yet didn’t dare to make a sound, fearing that she would disturb Jin Wangfei.
Li Hong Yuan silently retracted his gaze.
Mei Yi got up and singlehandedly grabbed that woman, even covering her mouth, and ruthlessly pinched her arm as she coldly berated in a whisper by her ear, “If you dare to make a sound, I can ensure you that you won’t be able to see tomorrow’s sun.” Dragging her along, she headed towards the edge. On the other side, because of the half hanging curtains, it more or less blocked Jing Wan’s line of sight from this side. In front of the others, she ruthlessly pushed her, and that woman fell onto the ground, her back hitting against the edge of the low table. She violently inhaled a cold breath, her complexion deathly pale, but for the onlookers, not a single one sympathized with her. After all, as the twelve brothels and pleasure boats’ head courtesan, they were true competitive rivals. If not because of the circumstances being special, they absolutely won’t have gathered together in one place. They coldly watched from the side, in fact, even moving a little further away. Regardless of whether or not they had the same thoughts as her, as long as they didn’t take actual action, they seemingly can just look down on her.
Mei Yi stooped down, pinching her chin. She lowered her voice, yet was still sharp and cold, “Imperceptive thing, if switched with someone of my Louxie Fang, right now, I would’ve just let someone throw you into the river, drowning you to death. Wanting to climb on a high branch, wanting to break away from your current status isn’t wrong, but still need to judge the situation. Raising such a thing like you, and even the head courtesan, from the other establishments, randomly picking out a girl would all be stronger than you. It’s also no wonder the illustrious leading sheep ten years ago has now fallen outside of the top ten ranks. If you dare to cause trouble again, even if not someone of Louxie Fang, I will still skin you alive!”
Mei Yi got up and tidied her clothes, before finally turning back, carrying a shallow smile.
It was obvious, this tiny little incident didn’t arouse Jing Wan’s attention. Afterwards, she inadvertently saw from far away a pleasure boat directly heading towards this side, the aim couldn’t be more obvious. Turning back, she met with Li Hong Yuan’s gaze, lightly smiling, “Wangye, there’s a visitor.”
Li Hong Yuan’s gaze slightly shifted, and naturally just saw that pleasure boat, “Just let them turn back.”
“Someone that dares to visit at this time, afraid, isn’t an ordinary person. Why don’t wangye wait until after learning the visitor’s identity before making the decision. It won’t be too late then.”
“Only you like to worry. Regardless of who, after today, it’s not like there won’t be any opportunities. Not meeting.”
“Certain ‘friendships’ between men, aren’t they all established in places like this? This person didn’t come sooner or later, but precisely at this time, so how can one not raise suspicions?” Jing Wan meaningfully smiled, “I’ll go change.” Getting up, she walked towards the staircase.
[1] This is an idiom quoted from Mencius, meaning sensitive to the finest detail, or to distinguish right and wrong with acuity. Autumn feather is a direct translations, but it’s referring to soft fine feathers, which is a figurative way of referring to small things.
[2] Overhanging eaves is a figurative way of saying dangerous places.
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Thanks for all the work! This novel is amazing, thank you again for translating.